1956 Ford F-100 - California Dreamin'

There are a lot of really great classic trucks to choose from, but when it comes down to picking the most iconic one of all time, it has to the '56 Ford F-100 Big-Window. Daniel Attias, owner of this month's cover truck is a good example of how universal the Effie's appeal really is. "It was while I was a teenager growing up in Jerusalem, Israel, watching American movies that I fell in love with the beautiful look of the American classic truck. In 1986 I moved to California, to join some friends for surfing and fun. That was when I got the chance to get even closer to the classics. Of course I didn't know much about these trucks, but every time I'd see one I told myself that one day I would own one. That day came in 1994, when I purchased a bone-stock '55 Ford pickup and after that I was hooked. I had so much fun driving it, but this truck was completely stock and let me tell you, driving the thing was a workout and not very safe. After the '55 I bought my first '56 F-100 Big-Window, fixed it up, and drove it for 10 years. After I sold it I knew I could make one even better, so for the one pictured here I started from the frame up. I went to Evan at Total Cost Involved and asked him to build me a chassis. I asked Evan to please use only the best components, so a four-link was used in back with Bilstein coilovers attached to a Currie 9-inch positraction rearend with 3.00:1 gears. They installed beautiful stainless steel brake lines with very clean four-piston, 13-inch Wilwood brakes. In front they installed their Mustang II suspension with 13-inch rotors and six-piston calipers. For better handling, front and rear sway bars were also included. The next thing was the engine. I had Edding's Engine Rebuilding in Sun Valley, California, balance and blueprint a 351 Ford using Edelbrock aluminum heads, roller cam, and forged pistons. For the transmission, Champion Transmission built a beefed Ford AOD to go behind the 350-horsepower 351.

For the body I went to Bob's F-100 Parts in Riverside, California, and purchased a Big-Window cab with doors. For everything else I wanted brand-new panels with no body filler so I called LMC Truck, and that took care of that. For the paint and bodywork I looked to Golden West in Van Nuys, California, where Adam Carrillo used 10 coats of Glasurit Sterling Grey to produce an amazing, perfect paintjob. After the exterior paint was color sanded and rubbed out the work moved into the inside where Frank Hoffman, a retired engineer, installed a Ron Francis wiring system in a way that is hidden with nothing showing. In front of an ididit steering column I went with Classic Instruments because I like how they look, and let me know everything that's going on under the hood. The seat started with a bench seat frame from Glide Engineering and then I had Dennis Hauswirth from Markel's Auto Interiors of Beverly Hills, California, upholster it in a perforated German brown leather with red stitching to match the bright red on the Dennis Carpenter emblems and Total Cost Involved frame. The headliner is done in suede, and the carpeting is genuine wool with Dynomat extreme sound deadening underneath. To set the '56's stance off, and roll in style I'm running 20-inch Coy's wheels mounted with Goodyear tires."

As our conversation with Daniel drew to an end, he really wanted us to stress how much he appreciated the help he received from the folks mentioned in this story, and again how much he loves how his '56 Ford "handles like a Porsche and rides like a Mercedes." There was one more thing Daniel wanted us to ask of CCT readers, "It is my opinion, but if you ever build one of these great looking trucks this is the way to do it. These '56 Ford F-100s look good original and that's why we love them so much. So please don't chop or cut them up, or shave the door handles, just make it safe and comfortable to drive."